Sherlock will not be returning for one-off film, says actor Mark Gatiss

NO MOVIE: Sherlock and Watson are returning to our screens in a confirmed fourth series [BBC]

The actor, who plays the detective's older brother Mycroft Holmes in the popular BBC series, denies suggestions that he, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch will be reuniting for a single film instead of a televised fourth season.

The rumour mill ran riot back in April when Freeman confessed that clashing timetables meant the next series hadn't even been written yet.

During an appearance on Alan Carr's Chatty Man, the Fargo star said: "I really, really don't know. Steven and Mark have a great idea for something we could do next which they told [Cumberbatch] and I. It's a fantastic, really mouthwatering idea.

CONFESSION: Gatiss has ruled out a one-off special [GETTY]

"But I really don't know when we are going to get to do it. I'm up for it – I'm ready – but it's getting planes to land in order. We just all need to be ready at the same time."

“There was talk of a single film, but amongst people who have nothing to do with Sherlock, I'm afraid”

Mark Gatiss

Fans quickly jumped to the conclusion that a feature length production would quench their Sherlock thirst, but Gatiss denied the reports.

He said: "There was talk of a single film, but amongst people who have nothing to do with Sherlock, I'm afraid."

While attending the BAFTA TV Awards, the Brit actor did admit that the cast and crew were "moving closer to agreeing dates."

But he claimed that fitting the cast's schedules together was similar to a difficult jigsaw puzzle.